Your subscriber's trust - Low unsubscriptions.

Radhika Venkata (c).


Internet connecting every computer in the world and opening up the doors to new technology everyday ... One such revolutionary technology is 'Email'. Email tends to connect people from different countries and exchange their views and promote the businesses.


Opt-in email marketing encourages the publishers to run ezines or opt-in courses. And subscribers or people seeking information subscribe to those electronic newsletters to receive the information.


If your subscriber is giving his/her personal information means, it comes with a responsibility to use those details wisely. If a subscriber wants to stay with you, there should be some trust. So how to maintain your subscribers list intact and develop trust?


** DON'T rent or exchange your email list with the third parties. period. If you rent your email list to somebody, your subscribers will think that the emails they are receiving from the third party are actually from YOU. If they are out of their interests and lot in number filling up their boxes, they will go for opt-out.


** Keep a private policy notice on your website. And also keep a link to it from your emails. Explain how exactly their details are used by you or your company. If you are an organization which needs sharing of the subscriber details with other partners of yours, then specifically mention those facts in your private policy.


** Provide useful content. Send them good articles, tips to improve their business or content that is focused on your opt-in list niche.


** Publish your physical address. In every email, include your physical address at the bottom. Let them know your company, your name and website etc. According to ftc.gov, you have to keep your physical address in every outgoing email to your opt-in list. Otherwise it is considered as spam.


** Publish your photo. This varies between person to person. Some like to keep their photo on their website and some don't ... But advantage of publishing photo is your subscribers connect to you subconciously while reading your email. It is like branding yourself.


** Offer help. In every email put up a section that lists your contact email or helpdesk url. Encourage your subscribers to contact you if they need any help or further information.


** Fulfil your promises. If you said you will give them some freebies after subscription, then do exactly what you promised.


** Don't send frequent emails annoying them. People don't like filling up their inboxes which are not interested them. I really can't say that it's completely true ... I have subscribed to an ezine of a well known internet marketer. He sends emails almost 5 out of 7 days of a week. Every email has a link to promote his products or his affiliate products. To be honest I really don't mind to receive them. Because in most of the emails, I get some pointers to improve my online business.


** Not too many advertisements. This is the main reason I would unsubscribe from the lists. I know part of the purpose of email marketing is to promote the business. But ads on all sides of the email? Simply they are very distracting.


** Consistent emails and Layout. If possible keep subscription form on your site. So your subscribers actually see your site before subscribing. Use the same template to send them emails. If you are not using html emails, then use a consistent email template. This way your subscriber is tuned to your email layout and easy for him to go through it.